Swiss seat supplier Lantal Textiles has developed an inflatable aircraft seat which it claims is more comfortable and much lighter than normal seats. The Langenthal-based company has substituted air cushions for the usual rubber foam seat material, and passengers can pump air around the seat to achieve the most comfortable shape.
Urs Baumann, president of Lantal Textiles, says: "Passengers will be able to adjust the seat's air pressure to whatever level is comfortable." Baumann says the biggest challenge was to find a way to replace the heavy mechanical footrest and seatback adjustment system.
"By using a pneumatic system we can save as much as 5.9kg [13lb] in an average seat's weight," he says.
Source: Flight International
